Collapsible display folder

ABSTRACT

A display folder including a front panel and a rear panel pivotally coupled to the front panel, the rear panel having generally the same size and shape as the front panel. The display folder further includes a pocket positioned on at least one of the front or rear panels, and a collapsible support panel coupled to both the front and rear panels. The display folder is movable between an expanded configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween and the support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compact configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a second angle therebetween smaller than the first angle and the support panel is collapsed.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/879,451, filed on Sep. 18, 2013, the entire contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention is directed to a display folder, moreparticularly, to a display folder which can be arranged in a relativelyflat, compact configuration.

BACKGROUND

Display folders and the like may be used to store and display items.However, many existing display folders are fixed in configuration, andnot able to be moved to a relatively flat, compact configuration.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention is a display folder including a frontpanel and a rear panel pivotally coupled to the front panel, the rearpanel having generally the same size and shape as the front panel. Thedisplay folder further includes a pocket positioned on at least one ofthe front or rear panels, and a collapsible support panel coupled toboth the front and rear panels. The display folder is movable between anexpanded configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a firstangle therebetween and the support panel is generally not collapsed, anda compact configuration wherein the front and rear panels form a secondangle therebetween smaller than the first angle and the support panel iscollapsed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the displayfolder of the present invention, shown in its expanded configuration;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the display folder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the display folder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the display folder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the display folder of FIG. 1, shown in itscompact configuration; and

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the display folder of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the display folder of thepresent invention, generally designated 10, may include a front panel 12and a rear panel 14, with a support panel 16 positioned therebetween.The front 12 and rear 14 panels may be pivotally coupled together alonga pivot or fold line/area 18 along their uppermost, outer edges. Thesupport panel 16 may be directly pivotally coupled to the front 12 andrear 14 panels at opposite ends thereof. The front 12, rear 14 andsupport 16 panels can all be generally rectangular in front view, and inone embodiment have the same width (e.g. a dimension extending in adirection parallel to the fold line 18). The front 12 and rear 14 panelscan have the same or generally the same size and shape, if desired. Inthe illustrated embodiment the support panel 16 has a support panel foldline 20 extending across its entire width, parallel to the fold line 18.The support panel fold line 20 divides the support panel 16 into supportpanel portions 16 a, 16 b.

In one embodiment, the front 12, rear 14 and support 16 panels are alldifferent portions of a single, unitary rectangular piece of materialseparated by fold lines or areas of weakness. Thus in this case thesupport panel 16 can be permanently and non-removably coupled to thefront 12 and/or rear 14 panels at both ends thereof. However, thedisplay folder 10 can be formed in various differing manners, and ifdesired, the panels 12, 14, 16 can be made of separate and discretepieces of material joined together. The folder 10/panels 12, 14, 16 canbe made of or include any of a wide variety of materials, such aspolymers (including plastic, vinyl, etc.), paper, cardboard,polymer-covered cardboard, leather, or the like.

The front panel 12 may include or be coupled to a coupling flap 22 thatextends over or at least partially defines the pivotal connection 18between the front 12 and rear 14 panels. The coupling flap 22 can thusbe positioned over an upper part of the rear panel 14 and secured via ajoint or coupling 24, shown as a heat sealing coupling 24 in FIG. 3. Thecoupling flap 22 can be formed as a single, unitary piece of materialwith the front panel 12 and/or the other panels 14, 16, or can be madeof a separate piece of material. In one case the coupling flap 22 solelydefines the pivotal connection 18 between the front 12 and rear 14panels, spanning a gap therebetween, wherein the front 12 and rear 14panel are not joined directly together (except by the coupling flap 22).The positioning and utility of the front coupling flap 22 can provideease of assembly and ensures that the joint 24 of the display folder 10is spaced away from the lower edges of the display folder 10, such thatthe joint 24 does not support any weight of the display folder 10 and/oris exposed to relatively little wear and tear to protect the joint 24and provide a more robust arrangement.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the display folder 10 in an expanded configuration,wherein the front 12 and rear 14 panels form a first, relatively largeangle therebetween (e.g. at least about 20° in one case or at leastabout 30° in another case) and the support panel 16 is generally flatand planar, and not folded/collapsed. When in the expandedconfiguration, the display folder 10 may be in a generally triangularconfiguration wherein the support panel 16 forms a base of a triangle atthe bottom-most extent of the display folder 10 and supporting theweight or at least part of the weight thereof, engaging a supportsurface(such as a desk, table top, etc.) therebeneath, and the front 12and rear 14 panels form sides of the triangle extending generallyupwardly away from the support panel 16/base. The support panel portions16 a, 16 b, are parallel or generally parallel in this configuration.The support panel 16 also limits pivotal movement of the panels 12, 14away from each other when the display folder 10 is opened to ensure thatthe display folder has the proper shape and configuration.

The display folder 10 is movable into and out of a compactconfiguration, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, by pivoting the front 12 andrear 14 panels about the fold line 18 to bring them closer together, andfolding/collapsing the support panel 16 about the support panel foldline 20. When the display folder 10 is in the compact configuration thefront 12 and rear 14 panels form a relatively small angle therebetween(e.g. less than about 10° in one case, or less than about 5° in anothercase), and the support panel 16 is folded/collapsed (or morefolded/collapsed than when in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1-4) andpositioned/sandwiched between the front 12 and rear 14 panels. In thisconfiguration, the support panel portions 16 a, 16 b are broughttogether and form a relatively small angle therebetween (e.g. less thanabout 10° in one case, or less than about 5° in another case).

In one embodiment, the folder 10 includes a pocket panel 26 that isgenerally parallel with and spaced apart from the front panel 12 todefine a pocket 28 therebetween in which loose items can be placed,along with a mouth 30 providing access to the pocket 28. The pocket 28can further includes a pair of side panels 32 oriented generallyperpendicular to the pocket panel 26 and the front panel 12, the sidepanels 32 being positioned on opposite sides of the pocket 28. In theillustrated embodiment the side panels 32 are gusseted to provide acollapsible/expandable functionality to the pocket 28.

The front panel 12 can include an inner face 12 a facing the rear panel14, and an outer face 12 b on the opposite side thereof. The pocket 28can be located on the outer face 12 b of the front panel 12 such thatthe pocket 28 can be accessed from the front side of the front panel 12for ease of access. In the illustrated embodiment at least part of themouth 30 is at least partially spaced away from an outer perimeter ofthe front panel 12 to further provide ease of access. The pocket 28 isshown as being positioned on the front panel 12; however, it should beunderstood that the pocket 28 could instead or in addition be positionedon the rear panel 14.

The folder 10 can also include a supplemental pocket 34 positioned onthe pocket 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the supplemental pocket 34is defined by a supplemental pocket panel 36 positioned on the pocketpanel 26, defining the supplemental pocket 34 therebetween. In oneembodiment the supplemental pocket panel 36 is made of a generallyclear, transparent and/or translucent material such that itemspositioned in the supplemental pocket 34 are viewable therethrough.

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the display folder 10 may include a closure strap40, which can be generally elastic, coupled to the rear panel 14. In theillustrated embodiment the strap 40 has a pair of ends 42, 44, and eachend 42, 44 is attached to an upper and lower portion, respectively, ofthe rear panel 14 by a tab 43 positioned on an inner surface of the rearpanel 14. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the strap 40 is at least partiallypassable around the display folder 10 (including the front panel 12and/or pockets 28, 34 and/or support panel 16) when the display folder10 is in the compact configuration. In this manner the strap 40 can helpto retain the display folder 10 in its compact configuration, and helpto retain loose items in the pockets 28, 34. It should be understoodthat while FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the strap 40 as being coupled only tothe rear panel 14, the strap 40 can instead or in addition be coupled tothe front 12 and/or support panel 16, or other portions of the displayfolder 10. Moreover, the strap 40 can be a continuous loop, in one casewith both ends 42, 44 joined directly together, with the strap 40 beingcoupled to the display folder 10, such as via a staple, passing thestrap 40 through a flap/opening, etc.

The display folder 10 can be used in a variety of settings and toprovide various functionalities. However, in one particular case, thedisplay folder 10 can be used as an activity center in a classroom. Inthis case, the teacher can place instructions for a particular activityor activities, or an invitation to participate in the activity, or adescription of a particular activity, in the supplemental pocket 34.When the supplemental pocket material 34 is clear, transparent ortranslucent, the instructions are visible to all users/students facingthe display folder 10. In this manner the materials in the supplementalpocket 34 can act as an attention-getting device for the student. Theteacher can then place materials associated with the instructions,description or invitation, such as hand-outs, worksheets or the like, inthe pocket 28. Since the pocket 28 can have a relatively high storagecapacity, due to the gusseted side panels 32, materials for a number ofusers, such as each member of a classroom, can be stored therein. Thesystem thereby enables a user to display contents and provide associatedmaterials in bulk, utilizing a single display folder 10 which can beeasily folded relatively flat and stored when not in use.

Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the variousembodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variationsthereof are possible without departing from the scope of the claims ofthe present application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display folder comprising: a front panel; arear panel pivotally coupled to said front panel, said rear panel havinggenerally the same size and shape as said front panel; a pocketpositioned on at least one of said front or rear panels; and acollapsible support panel coupled to both said front and rear panels,said display folder being movable between an expanded configurationwherein said front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween andsaid support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compactconfiguration wherein said front and rear panels form a second angletherebetween smaller than said first angle and said support panel iscollapsed.
 2. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said at least one ofsaid front or rear panels includes an inner face facing the other one ofsaid front or rear panels and an outer face on the opposite sidethereof, and wherein said pocket is located on said outer face, andwherein said rear panel has the same size and shape as said front panel.3. The display folder of claim 1 wherein said pocket at least partiallydefines an inner cavity, and wherein said inner cavity is accessiblefrom a front side of said at least one of said panels.
 4. The displayfolder of claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a mouth, and wherein atleast part of said mouth is at least partially spaced away from an outerperimeter of said at least one of said front or rear panels.
 5. Thedisplay folder of claim 1 wherein said pocket includes a pocket panelthat is generally parallel with and spaced apart from said at least oneof said front or rear panels, said pocket further including a pair ofside panels positionable generally perpendicular to said pocket paneland said at least one of said front or rear panels, said side panelsbeing positioned on opposite sides of said pocket.
 6. The display folderof claim 5 wherein each side panel is made of a gusseted material. 7.The display folder of claim 1 further comprising a supplemental pocketpositioned on said pocket.
 8. The display folder of claim 1 furthercomprising contents stored in said pocket, and wherein the displayfolder further includes a clear, transparent or translucent supplementalpocket positioned on said pocket, and wherein the display folder furtherincludes instructions positioned in said supplemental pocket such thatsaid instructions are viewable therethrough, wherein said instructionsrelate to said contents of said pocket.
 9. The display folder of claim 1further comprising an elastic strap coupled to at least one of saidfront panel, rear panel or support panel, wherein said elastic strap ispassable at least partially around said display folder when said displayfolder is in said compact configuration to retain said display folder insaid compact configuration.
 10. The display folder of claim 9 whereinsaid elastic strap has a pair of ends, and wherein each end is attachedto the other one of said front or rear panels.
 11. The display folder ofclaim 1 wherein said front panel, said rear panel and said support panelare all made of a single, unitary piece of material.
 12. The displayfolder of claim 11 wherein said single, unitary piece of materialincludes a coupling flap unitarily formed with said at least one of saidof said front or rear panels and directly secured to the other one ofsaid at least one of said front or rear panels, wherein said couplingflap extends over or at least partially defines said pivotal connectionbetween said front and rear panels.
 13. The display folder of claim 1wherein said support panel includes a fold line formed therein aboutwhich said support panel is foldable.
 14. The display folder of claim 1wherein when said display folder is in said expanded configuration saiddisplay folder is in a generally triangular shape such that the supportpanel forms a base of a triangle at a bottom-most portion of saiddisplay folder, and the front and rear panels form sides of the triangleextending generally upwardly away from the base.
 15. The display folderof claim 1 wherein said support panel is permanently and non-removablycoupled to said front panel and rear panel on opposite sides thereof 16.A display folder comprising: a front panel; a rear panel pivotallycoupled to said front panel along a fold line or area; a pocketpositioned on at least one of said front or rear panels; and acollapsible support panel coupled to both said front and rear panels,said display folder being movable between an expanded configurationwherein said front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween andsaid support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compactconfiguration wherein said front and rear panels form a second angletherebetween smaller than said first angle and said support panel iscollapsed, wherein said front panel, said rear panel and said supportpanel are all made are all made of a single, unitary piece of material,and wherein one of said front panel or said rear panel includes acoupling flap that extends over or at least partially defines said foldline or area.
 17. The display folder of claim 16 wherein said rear panelhas the same size and shape as said front panel, wherein said front andrear panels are pivotally joined together solely by said coupling flap.18. A display folder comprising: a front panel; a rear panel pivotallycoupled to said front panel along a fold line or area located along anuppermost edge of both said front panel and said rear panel; a pocketpositioned on at least one of said front or rear panels; and acollapsible support panel coupled to both said front and rear panels,said display folder being movable between an expanded configurationwherein said front and rear panels form a first angle therebetween andsaid support panel is generally not collapsed, and a compactconfiguration wherein said front and rear panels form a second angletherebetween smaller than said first angle and said support panel iscollapsed, wherein said front panel, said rear panel and said supportpanel are all made are all made of a single, unitary piece of material.19. The display folder of claim 18 wherein one of said front panel orsaid rear panel includes a coupling flap that extends over or at leastpartially defines said fold line or area.
 20. The display folder ofclaim 18 wherein said rear panel has the same size and shape as saidfront panel.